The Laker/Lutz News

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Seminar focuses on youth drug use, suicide

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When Heather Sefton, of Wesley Chapel, began losing close friends to suicide, she didn’t know how to cope with the trauma.

The untimely demise of one in the Bay Area was preceded by six others in Sefton’s native New Hampshire.

From front left to back right: Yahkaira Borbosa, Imam Hassan Sultan, Teresa Daniels, Eddie Williams, Jesse Varnadoe, Al Hernandez and Emery Ailes were participants at a Feb. 17 health seminar. The program was hosted by Pasco-Hernando State College to address the issues of mental health and substance abuse. (Brian Fernandes)

“I really didn’t understand what was going on,” the 19-year-old said. “They all just kind of kept hitting me.”

She too, began having suicidal thoughts as a result of her own family issues and having struggled with her self-identity, she recalled.

Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has been active in providing resources for those like Sefton, seeking help.

One of its programs — Linking in Faith and Education (LIFE) — seeks to help improve mental and behavioral health by encouraging communication with group support.

The college also hosted a recent seminar – LIFE, Spirit, Wellness: Combating Substance Abuse and Mental Health Issues in Youth.

The Feb. 17 event, at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, focused on the issues of mental health and substance abuse.

Panelist Teresa Daniels, a volunteer for the Tampa Bay branch of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, spoke about her son, Tristen, who took his life over five years ago.

“We had no idea that he was having any thoughts, or that anything other than what we believed to be normal high school stressors, [were] going on,” she said.

Daniels said she thought her son might be having issues coping with the loss of his  grandmother, as well as working odd hours and lack of sleep.

But, there were no serious signs of depression, she said, adding that Tristen was the class clown.

He may have been “masking” his true feelings, Daniels said.

In other words, he may have been hiding his personal issues, while in the company of others.

Likewise, Sefton said there were no obvious signs that her friends were suffering.

Panelist Eddie Williams, a PHSC mental health counselor, provided some advice.

“One of the things I would say the youth is missing usually [is] socialization,” he said. “Having a peer-to-peer support group, or another youth there to talk with, could break the mold. Talking is healing.”

Williams is trying to implement these kind of groups across PHSC’s five campuses.

When it is apparent that someone is doing the opposite of their usual routines, or interests, it’s best to consult them to find out if there’s underlying issues, Williams advised.

The college’s LIFE program also encourages a religious component to be used in offering help, as well.

It aims to educate faith leaders on how to rally around and support those within their community who have mental concerns.

It was Sefton’s growing attendance at Wesley Chapel’s Life Church that helped change things for the better, she said.

“I was found by Jesus,” Sefton said. “That’s really what got me through – my relationship with him.”

And, with finding therapy, she has begun to offer it, as well.

“I’m very vulnerable and open about my story now,” Sefton noted. “I feel like that’s led a lot of people to talk to me about how they feel.”

Johnny Crowder was present at the seminar to offer to those in need, another outlet – with Cope Notes.

This texting service sends multiple messages a day, to its users, consisting of inspirational words and questions.

Cope Notes asks questions for recipients to voluntarily respond to, or just to reflect upon.

The intent is to help others consistently focus on the positive, as their mood may change throughout the day.

Crowder founded the service as a result of his own background.

“I’m a suicide and abuse survivor,” he said. “I spent 10 years in treatment for mental illness.”

He said there wasn’t a specific catalyst that led him to suicidal tendencies.

Besides experiencing domestic violence at home, Crowder said he did not find a sense of community in school and felt isolated.

“It was a childhood full of trauma and neglect that eventually snowballed,” he explained.

Crowder said that he began to find solace in singing, painting, writing and playing the guitar.

This, coupled with socializing and gradually building trust, is what helped him through his pain, he added.

Another speaker, Rachel Starostin, provided a presentation on substance abuse, an issue in which she has struggled with.

She had lived an independent life as a nurse, raising three children before she was hit by a drunk driver.

As a result, she was placed on pain medication to cope with her injuries.

However, Starostin became hooked on her prescription medicine and found it difficult to maintain her daily life.

“I functioned for a long time — until I didn’t,” she said, adding that she gradually transitioned to crystal methamphetamine.

She began neglecting her responsibilities as a mother and eventually lost her home, having to move her children from one hotel to another, Starostin recalled.

A brush with the law resulted in her arrest and her children being taken in by their grandmother.

“When I got out, they didn’t want to come home,” Starostin said. “They didn’t want to look me in the eye.”

Elizabeth Statzer, of the Medical Center of Trinity, took part in Starostin’s class, noting “substance use disorders are something that effects all ages, all races, all genders.”

The Medical Center of Trinity offers selective programs to help users overcome their addiction, she said.

Services include in-patient mental health services. There also is an outpatient program at the hospital where an addict can come by for group therapy three days a week.

Family support groups and family-to-family education classes also are provided to assist loved ones.

Starostin went through a 12-step program for recovery.

She currently is a public speaker, educating others on the dangers of substance abuse.

She also plans to help open a faith-based recovery home for women.

For free treatment referrals and information, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at (800) 662-4357.

To learn more about, or to try Cope Notes for free, text COPE to 33222, or visit CopeNotes.com.

Published February 26, 2020

Summit addresses mental health challenges

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Overcoming mental health and substance abuse issues in local communities seems a daunting undertaking — but offering a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on may be a good place to start.

At least that’s what a group of educators and faith-based leaders asserted at a recent mental health summit at Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco-Hernando State College hosted a mental health summit on Feb. 18 at its Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. It featured a panel discussion between educators and faith leaders in the community. (Kevin Weiss)

The state college’s Bridging Faith and Mental Health Communities Summit brought together dozens of faith-based leaders, public and private clinical agencies, students, educators and community members. They discussed ongoing problems and solutions on topics such as depression, suicide and substance abuse, wellness and recovery.

A plenary panel discussion addressed those topics head-on.

University of South Florida philosophy and religious studies professor Garrett Potts tried to pinpoint the root of mental health issues.

He suggested that depression and addiction have been exacerbated because there’s “a crisis of meaning” and “a loss of hope” in society and culture today.

And, as a result, he said, people have turned to drugs and alcohol, as a coping mechanism.

The panelist advised that if you think someone may be suffering from substance abuse or a mental health crisis, empathy and guidance without judgement can go a long way.

“We have to be able to sort of lay our cards on the table and say, ‘Hey, I’m with you,’” Potts said.

“Try at all costs to avoid the shame cycle that our fellow addicts and sufferers are already stuck in. They don’t need any more shame than they’re already placing on themselves.”

He added, “A lot of times, what you hear with individuals who are struggling with suicide, is they’ve found themselves in a place where they’re isolated. Either something they’re struggling with is stigmatized to the point that they don’t feel loved, or they feel like no one around them cares about them or can help them.”

Another panelist, Dr. Eddie Williams, director of PHSC’s behavioral health department, pointed out those dealing with depression and suicide “often disengage from everybody” in their personal and social life, and in the workplace.

Williams underscored the importance of reaching out before a particular mental illness worsens.

A decreased functioning in everyday life and a general feeling of sadness are some warning signs to watch out for, he said.

“We need to make sure that person gets reconnected,” Williams said, “to let them know that they’re loved and understood.”

He added: “Don’t take no for an answer, if you start to see someone disengaging from life. Sometimes, it just takes that one act of courage and that could save someone’s life.”

Williams also observed those who’ve successfully recovered from substance abuse or mental illness must “give it back and try to help someone else reach that level of recovery.”

Williams added: “You’ve got to have that support from people who’ve been in similar situations.”

Pastor Doug Zipperer, of Shady Hills’ United Methodist Church, called for more fellowship and outreach groups.

He mentioned organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous do a good job of bringing people together and helping each other, so they’re not fighting mental health and addiction battles alone.

Zipperer put it like this: “The words and encouragement and counsel of a real close friend is probably more lasting than hours of clinical counseling or the professional help of somebody they don’t trust.”

Another panelist, Taiwan Simmons, the co-founder of Inside Reach Ministries in Wesley Chapel, suggested there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to people struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse.

Offering care and affection to loved ones may not be enough, Simmons said.

Still, the panelist said there’s a responsibility to reach out to those dealing with those troubles — even in the face of getting rejected by that person.

“We have people who are hurting,” he said. “They need our prayer, they need our support, they need our attention, they need our encouragement.

“You have to be engaged and you have to empower not just yourself, but the people around you,” he said.

The panel also included Imam Hassan Sultan, CEO of the Muslim Connection; Ryan Morris, PHSC student government president; and, John Mitten, Hernando County commissioner and PHSC board trustee.

Along with the panel discussion, the event also included breakout sessions focused on suicide, and substance abuse awareness and prevention.

In addition to the state college, community partners involved in the summit included the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, BayCare Behavioral Health – Community Health Activation Team (CHAT), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Take Stock in Children, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center and Pasco Aware.

Published February 27, 2019

Robin Williams’ suicide sparks important conversations

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While the death of Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams has prompted expressions of sadness from around the globe, some local grief and suicide prevention experts said the loss also has stimulated important conversations.

Suicide-depression-r100When news hit that Williams had taken his own life Aug. 11, the celebrity’s death sparked discussions about suicide, mental illness and grief.

Williams’ death is tragic, but it has focused attention on a topic that many people would prefer to avoid, said Betsey Westuba, chairwoman of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition.

“When I say the word ‘suicide,’ I find people will change the subject. I call it the ‘S-word,’ because people want to run away from it,” said Westuba, who also facilitates a group that meets in Lutz for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. “The point is, it’s real. It’s out there.”

To help combat the problem, people must become more alert to signs that others are thinking about suicide, and must be willing to step in to do what they can to help, she said.

Jason Tompkins, a licensed clinical social worker, said the death by suicide of a well-known personality, such as Williams, can serve as a catalyst to raise awareness to help prevent suicides.

“A high-profile suicide starts a lot of conversations with people who would not be having this conversation,” said Tompkins, who coordinates the annual International Survivors of Suicide Loss Conference.

While Williams’ death has received worldwide attention and prolonged media coverage, there have been hundreds of suicides around the country that have occurred since Williams died, Tompkins noted.

Up to 39,000 people die by suicide in the United States each year, Tompkins said. That works out to more than 100 people a day.

Deaths by suicide tend to raise many questions, Tompkins said.

“A lot of the questions that I hear in the aftermath of suicide: ‘Why did they do it? How come we couldn’t stop them? Didn’t they know that we loved them?’” Tompkins said. “Those are the types of questions that, years later sometimes, people wrestle with.”

Grief is a common reaction to deaths of all kinds, said Grace Terry, founder of Grief Resolution Resources of Tampa. It’s not uncommon, either, for people to feel a certain measure of regret for things they should or shouldn’t have done before their loved one passed away. Those regrets can be magnified when the death is by suicide.

“I believe that friends and families of those who die by suicide have a particularly difficult grief challenge,” Terry said. “No matter what the circumstance or situation, people who have loved ones die by suicide have a crushing sense of guilt.”

People wonder how someone like Williams — who was talented, rich and famous — could reach a point where he would end his life.

“When someone is incredibly depressed, it doesn’t matter how wealthy they are or how much fame they have,” Terry said. “Really, none of that matters if someone is clinically depressed.”

There are ways to help people — both those who may be considering suicide and those who are coping with the loss of a loved one through suicide — the experts said. Treatment is available, Terry said. And in many cases, those who seek professional help can get better.

“Depression can be mild, moderate or severe,” Terry said. There are times when it becomes life-threatening and life-ending, she added.

If you suspect someone needs help, it’s important to respond, Terry said.

“Express your concern in a loving way,” Terry said. Offer to go with them to see a doctor or attend a support group.

Be direct, Westuba said. If you suspect someone is suffering through depression, ask, “Are you suicidal? Are you having suicidal thoughts?” Then help them find professional help.

There are some actions to avoid, Terry said.

“Do not nag. Do not scold. Do not shame people,” she said. “Do not tell people, ‘Get a grip. Get over it.’ Or, ‘Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.’ That does more harm than good.”

Those who take their own lives generally have impaired judgment, said Terry, who at one point in her life was clinically depressed and considered ending her life.

“People who attempt to complete suicide are usually in so much emotional pain that they have no capacity to consider what pain their action might cause someone else,” she said.

The death of a comic genius that brought so much joy to others illustrates what a pervasive and potentially deadly force depression can be.

“What comes out of all of this is that we never know when someone is suffering suicidal thoughts,” said Westuba, who facilitates a group called Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide. “It’s a very complex situation.”

The group meets at Suncoast Kids Place in Lutz, which is part of Van Dyke Church. Westuba leads a group for adults, but another group for teenagers is expected to begin meeting in September.

Such settings can be helpful for people who are coming to terms with their loss and their grief, Tompkins said.

Even if there are no easy answers, he added, “It does seem very helpful and beneficial to be able to have a place to ask those questions.

“I think that it’s important to remember that grief is a process,” he said. “It’s not like a light switch” that can be easily turned off and on. “For many survivors, the sad part lives on for a long time.”

Suicide Hotline: (800) 273-8255
Local 211 hotline: Visit 211.org and enter your ZIP code to find help for all sorts of issues.

WHAT: Healing After a Loved One’s Suicide
WHO: Adults, 18 and older
WHEN: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the first and third Wednesday of each month
WHERE: 17030 Lakeshore Road, Building G, Lutz
COST: Free
INFO: Suncoast Kids Place, (813) 990-0216

Warning signs
People who die by suicide often show one or more of these warning signs before they take action:

• Talk about wanting to kill themselves, or say they wish they were dead
• Look for ways to kill themselves, such as hoarding medicine or buying a gun
• Talk about a specific suicide plan
• Feel hopeless or having no reason to live
• Feel trapped, desperate, or needing to escape from an intolerable situation
• Feel like they’re a burden to others
• Feel humiliated
• Have intense anxiety or panic attacks
• Lose interest in things, or lose the ability to experience pleasure
• Experience insomnia
• Become socially isolated and withdrawn from friends, family and others
• Acting irritable or agitated
• Show rage or talk about seeking revenge for being victimized or rejected, whether or not the situations seem real

Those showing these types of behavior should be evaluated for possible suicide risk by a medical doctor or mental health professional.

Source: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

August 20, 2014

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